In the last blog, we discussed Dementia, the causes and signs of it, and the different types of Dementias out there. Today, we are focusing on the most common type, Alzheimer's.

Alzheimer's Disease is a type of Dementia that causes problems with memory, thinking, and behavior. It is a general term for memory loss and other aforementioned cognitive abilities that are serious enough to interfere with daily life. Alzheimer's accounts for 60 to 80 percent of all Dementia cases.

While some memory impairment is part of the normal aging process, Alzheimer's is not. With increasing age, comes the greater risk to develop Alzheimer's. In fact, majority of people with this disease are age 65 and older. However; Alzheimer's Disease is not just a disease that caters to senior citizens.

Studies have shown that approximately 200,000 Americans under the age of 65 have younger-onset, also known as early-onset Alzheimer's. Many people with early-onset Alzheimer's tend to be in their 40s and 50s, and have families, careers, or may even be caregivers themselves. Scientists are still researching the causes of early onset Alzheimer's, though most believe that it is hereditary. As you can see though, Alzheimer's Disease does not discriminate.

Falling under the giant umbrella of Dementia, Alzheimer's Disease is very progressive. It comes in three stages: Mild Alzheimer's Disease (early-stage), Moderate Alzheimer's Disease (middle-stage), and Severe Alzheimer's Disease (late-stage). It can be heartbreaking, not only for the individual, but for his or her loved ones to witness as well. Let's take a closer look at each stage of Alzheimer's Disease.

Mild Alzheimer's Disease - Early Stage

In the early stages of Alzheimer's Disease, a person may still be able to function independently - meaning, they may still be able to drive, work, and be a part of social events and activities. However; the person may feel as though they are having memory lapses, such as: forgetting familiar words, the locations of familiar places, or the location of every day objects.

During this stage, friends or family members close to the person may begin to notice the person having difficulties and urge them to see a doctor. The doctor will preform a detailed exam to detect if there are any problems in memory or concentration. Symptoms of Mild Alzheimer's include:

Short term memory loss.

Problems finding words, or remembering names.

Trouble remembering new information, such as remembering the names of people who you were just introduced to.

Challenges performing tasks in social or work settings.

Trouble remembering material that was just read.

Losing and/or misplacing a valuable, every day object.

Increased difficulty with planning or organizing.

Although the onset of Alzheimer's Disease cannot yet be stopped or reversed, an early diagnosis allows the person to have an opportunity to live well with the disease for as long as possible, and to plan for the future.

Moderate Alzheimer's Disease - Middle Stage

This stage is typically the longest stage and cast last for many years. As the disease progresses, the person with Alzheimer's may require a greater level of care. During the moderate stage, individuals may have greater difficulty performing ever day, normal tasks, such as: paying bills, cooking, or driving, but they still may remember important details about their life. Symptoms in this stage will be noticeable, and include:

Changes in behavior and personality, including: suspiciousness, delusions, compulsive and repetitive behavior, such as hand-wringing or tissue shredding.

Severe Alzheimer's Disease - Late Stage

The final stage of this disease can be some of the hardest symptoms for families of their loved one to witness. In this last stage, individuals may need around the clock care and assistance, as they lose the ability to respond to their environment, carry on a conversation, and control movement. As memory and cognitive skills continue to worsen, individuals experience significant personality changes. Symptoms in this stage include:

Late-stage care decisions can be emotionally, financially, and physically demanding for the individual and the caregiver. If you or a loved one are experiencing any of the stages of Alzheimer's, there is help. Your local Alzheimer's Association chapter will connect you with all of the resources that you need to cope with the challenges and symptoms of this disease.

Currently, there is no cure for Alzheimer's Disease, and no treatment, or prevention to reverse, or stop this condition from worsening. According to the Alzheimer's Association, Alzheimer's Disease is the sixth leading cause of death in the United States, and one of the costliest. As of 2018, Alzheimer's and other Dementias cost the nation $277 billion, and by 2050, those costs could rise as high as $1.1 trillion. However; early and accurate diagnosis could save up to $7.9 trillion in medical and care costs.

The number of people living with Alzheimer's is growing at an expediential rate. Every 65 seconds, someone in the United States develops the disease. It is estimated that as of the present day, 5.7 million Americans are living with Alzheimer's, and by 2050, this number is expected to rise to 14 million - an unprecedented increase.

Every 1 in 3 senior citizens dies with Alzheimer's or another form of Dementia. Alzheimer's Disease is a silent killer. While deaths from other diseases, such as heart disease, have decreased by 11%, deaths from Alzheimer's have increased by 123%. Surprisingly, Alzheimer's kills more people than breast cancer and prostate cancer combined.

Scientists, researchers, and doctors are continuing to find ways to cure, if not treat, or reduce the symptoms that Alzheimer's presents. Clinical trials are currently being ran so that new treatments can be created to alter the course of the disease, and improve the quality of life for people living with Alzheimer's and Dementia.

Remember, not all memory loss is linked to Alzheimer's and Dementia. Some memory loss problems can be caused by other medical conditions, or something as simple as a vitamin deficiency. If you or a loved one are experiencing symptoms that mimic Alzheimer's Disease, speak with your doctor so the cause can be determined.

Imagine you are headed out the door to run some errands and you can't seem to remember where you left your keys. You know you had them with you not too long ago, but now you can't find them. After a few minutes spent searching, you find your keys in the most unlikely places - the refrigerator. You're bewildered as to why they are there, but assume you must have accidentally placed them there when you were grabbing a glass of water. You carry on and chalk your moment of forgetfulness to stress, or fatigue, and hop in your car. Where were you going? You had a whole list of places you mentally noted. The grocery store? No. The gym? No. Maybe, the mall? No.

After running through a checklist of your frequently visited locations, you remember where your headed. Oh, of course, the bank! You chuckle to yourself for forgetting something that you're used to doing every Tuesday afternoon. You drive a little ways down the road and suddenly stop. You can't remember how to get there. Which highway do you take? What exit is it off of? You call your spouse and share your concerns. You've always had a great sense of direction. You used to be able to find your way anywhere, never even needing a map or a GPS.

Between those three scenarios, you're starting to become worried. It's not like you to lose your focus like that, even if you are more than a little tired. You decide to set up an appointment with your doctor to discuss your memory. After doing some tests, he tells you that you have the start of Dementia.

June is National Alzheimer's and Dementia awareness month, and this week on our blog we will be taking a more in depth look at how these two tragic medical conditions are related. Let's start by exploring more about Dementia.

What is Dementia?

Dementia is a general term for a decline in mental ability that is severe enough to interfere with daily life. Dementia is not a specific disease, but rather it is an overall term that describes a group of symptoms associated with a decline in memory or other thinking skills that are severe enough to reduce a person's ability to perform every day, routine activities.

There are 10 different types of Dementia, with Alzheimer's being the most common type. In fact, Alzheimer's disease accounts for 60 - 80% of cases, followed by Vascular Dementia (which occurs after a stroke) as the second most common type of Dementia.

Many Dementias are progressive, which means that they start out slow, but gradually worsen as time goes on. People with Dementia may begin to have problems with short term memory, keeping track of every day items, paying bills, cooking, remembering appointments, or traveling outside of their neighborhood.

Symptoms of Dementia

The symptoms of Dementia can vary greatly, but at leasttwo of the below core mental functions must be significantly impaired to be considered Dementia:

Memory Loss

Communication and Language Difficulty

Lack of Ability to Focus and Pay Attention

Lack of Reasoning and Judgement

Changes in Visual Perception

﻿Note: It is important to consult with your doctor if you are experiencing any of the above symptoms. There are many other conditions that mimic the symptoms of dementia, including some that are reversible, such as thyroid problems or vitamin deficiencies. Through testing, your doctor should be able to determine your diagnosis.

What are the Causes of Dementia?

Dementia is caused by damage to brain cells. Different types of Dementia are associated with particular types of brain cell damage in a particular region of the brain. Damage interferes with the ability of brain cells to effectively communicate with each other, and, when brain cells can't communicate normally, thinking, behavior, and feelings are affected. Therefore, when cells in a specific area or region of the brain are damaged, that region cannot carry out its normal functions.

Vascular Dementia: Second most common form of Dementia, accounts for 10% of cases. Typically known as "post-stroke" Dementia. Symptoms include: impaired judgment, inability to make decisions, plan, or organize. This occurs from blood vessel blockage, bleeding in the brain, or damage that leads to strokes. The location of these, plus the number and size of the brain injuries determine whether Dementia will result, and how the person's thinking and physical functions will be affected.

Dementia with Lewy Bodies (DLB): Lewy Bodies are abnormal clumps of the protein alpha-synuclein which can develop in the cortex part of the brain. When that happens, Dementia can result. Symptoms include memory loss, thinking problems, sleep disturbances, visual hallucinations, slowness, imbalance, and Parkinson movements.

Mixed Dementia: When abnormalities linked to more than one cause of dementia occur simultaneously in the brain. Studies have shown that Mixed Dementia is becoming more common that in previous years, and show that the likelihood of having Mixed Dementia increases with age. Mixed Dementia is seen highest in people 85 and older.

Parkinson's Disease: Occurs when the protein clumps begin in the substantia nigra, located deep in the brain. These clumps cause degeneration of the nerve cells that produce dopamine. Symptoms include: problems with movement, slowness, rigidity, and tremors.

Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease (CJD): CJD is the most common human form of the rare, fatal brain disorders that affect people and certain other mammals. It is believed to be caused by consumption of products from cattle who have been affected by mad cow disease. It's a rapidly fatal disorder that impairs memory and coordination, and causes behavior changes.

Normal Pressure Hydrocephalus: Caused by a buildup of fluid in the brain. Symptoms include: difficulty walking, memory loss, andincontinence. This disorder can sometimes be corrected with surgical installation of a shunt in the brain that can drain any access fluid.

Diagnosis & Treatment of Dementia

It's important to know that there is no one test to determine if an individual has Dementia. Doctors diagnose Dementia, and its different types based on careful medical history, a physical exam, lab tests, and monitor any characteristic changes in thinking, every day function, and the behaviors associated with each type. While many Doctors can diagnose Dementia with a high degree of certainty, often times they cannot pinpoint the exact type of Dementia because many of the symptoms from each type overlap each other. At this point, Doctors may recommend seeing a specialist, such as a neurologist, or gero-psychologist.

The treatment of Dementia is dependent on its cause. In most progressive Dementias, including Alzheimer's Disease - there is no cure or treatment that stops or slows its progression. However; there are drug treatments that may temporarily improve the symptoms of each Dementia. Non-drug therapies can also help to alleviate some symptoms of Dementia.

Ultimately, Doctors and researchers are continuing to seek the path to new, and effective treatments for the various types of Dementia. It is through funding and clinical trials that they can develop better ways to live with, and hopefully be cured from Dementia.

Remember: consulting with a medical expert, such as your physician will benefit you or your loved one in how to cope with Dementia. Various types of help and support are available to you and your loved one, so no one has to walk this journey alone.